Super Saturday is one of the most highly anticipated days of the Melbourne Autumn Carnival and we’ll be treated to nine quality races at Flemington.
The rail will be set out five metres around the entire course and at publish, we’re faced with a track rated in the Good (4) range.
Race 1 - 12:20pm AEDT
Group 3 Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (1200m)
John McArdle has some terrific two-year-olds at his disposal this season and La Rocque can return the stable another win on Super Saturday.
La Rocque has only made one appearance at the races so far, but out paid to her rivals over 1200m at Pakenham and will only improve for that effort.
4 Units La Rocque
Race 2 - 12:55pm AEDT
Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour (1400m)
Hindaam needed the run when she finished towards the tail of the field in the Kevin Hayes Stakes, but she harbours plenty of improvement and will relish the drop in class.
The Savabeel filly was outstanding during her spring campaign and was sent to the paddock after winning the Twilight Glow Stakes.
At around the $7.50 mark we can have a genuine each-way play.
2 Units E/W Hindaam
Race 3 - 1:30pm AEDT
Listed March Stakes (1400m)
Odeum has opened a short-priced favourite in March Stakes betting, but I’m confident she’ll improve from the run and I am going to take her on.
The one I’m interested in at current odds is the enigma, So Si Bon.
So Si Bon is a talented galloper, but he has rightfully been the bane of punters’ existence throughout his career – looking the winner a lot, but not getting here.
He has been more honest since his gelding however, and he returned to the races for a credible fifth in the Group 1 Futurity Stakes at Caulfield a couple of weeks ago.
He’ll enjoy improvement from that and at around the $9 mark, he could very well prove over the odds.
2 Units So Si Bon
Race 4 - 2:05pm AEDT
Group 2 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m)
This is a wide-open edition of the VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes, but Lightsaber has done the job for us at his last couple of starts and I am happy to stick with him.
Lightsaber finished second on debut at Geelong in January and hasn’t looked back, breaking his maiden at Ladbrokes Park and continuing his rise through the grades over 1400m at the same venue, last time out.
This is obviously harder, but he has plenty of upside and it looks a very winnable race for him.
3 Units Lightsaber
Race 5 - 2:45pm AEDT
Listed Incognitus Stakes (1100m)
Oxley Road has recorded two wins from as many starts and can keep alive his unbeaten record in the Incognitus Stakes.
The Exceed And Excel colt was an impressive winner down the straight here on debut and proved that it was no fluke when an easy winner of the Zeditave Stakes last time out.
Fitter third-up and proven down the straight, I can’t find a reason why he won’t be in the finish again.
4 Units Oxley Road
Race 6 - 3:25pm AEDT
Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m)
September Run returned what was arguably the performance of the autumn when she flew home from nowhere to only just miss in the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes, and she will take a power of beating in the Newmarket Handicap.
The Exceed And Excel filly was truly outstanding during her spring preparation, culminating in a dominant win in the Coolmore Stud Stakes.
She gets into this race well under the conditions, Craig Williams rides and any improvement would probably just see her winning.
5 Units September Run
Race 7 - 4:05pm AEDT
Group 3 Matron Stakes (1600m)
Lunakorn strips fitter for a decent first-up effort for third in the Mannerism Stakes and the Matron Stakes looks a lovely race for her.
The four-year-old daughter of Puissance De Lune ended her last prep with a lovely win in BM78 company here at Flemington, having found form around some good horses.
She is yet to finish worse than second at this point of her prep and gets the services of Jamie Kah on Saturday.
3 Units Lunakorn
Race 8 - 4:45pm AEDT
Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m)
This is a wide-open edition of the Australian Cup and there is a case to be made for plenty of runners, including Shared Ambition.
Shared Ambition has always hinted at above-average talent, but he went somewhat amiss during a long and busy preparation in 2020 and didn’t live up to expectations.
His first two runs back this time however suggested that the penny really has finally started to drop; an impressive first-up win over a mile in Sydney and a close-up second in the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes.
He is another horse that is primed for a big third-up showing and he will eat up the 2000m.
2 Units Shared Ambition
Race 9 - 5:20pm AEDT
Group 2 Kewney Stakes (1600m)
Personal was excellent first-up off a spell and she can win the Kewney Stakes on Super Saturday.
The Fastnet Rock filly finished third in the Blue Diamond Stakes most notably during her two-year-old season and she was a model of consistency during the spring; running second in three-consecutive races before ultimately winning the Oaks.
Getting out to a mile suits, she loves Flemington, and she can hopefully send us home a winner.
4 Units Personal